Tag: Citizen Review Committee

By Helen Silvis, The Skanner, Oct. 23, 2013 Portland City Council deferred a decision on a string of proposals from the auditor’s office to make changes to the Independent Police Review Division. The council will address the proposals Dec. 4 after more study. Constantin Severe, IPR director, introduced the new proposals, which include: giving the […]

By Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian, Oct. 23, 2013 A number of proposed Portland City Code changes that would expand the powers of the Independent Police Review Division and require more information be made public on the police chief’s disciplinary decisions are to go before City Council this afternoon. The League of Women Voters, Portland Copwatch […]

Since a take-no-prisoners inquiry by the U.S. Department of Justice, which found Portland police were engaged in a “pattern or practice” of excessive force against people with mental illness, the City of Portland’s draft settlement agreement has still not been approved in federal court. Justice officials, the Portland police union and the Albina Ministerial Alliance Coalition […]

By Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian, June 11, 2013 The Portland Police Bureau Tuesday released a matrix showing how it is tracking the adoption of 80 reforms sought by federal justice officials after a scathing inquiry last year into police use of force against people with mental illness. READ – PPB’s 80-item matrix (PDF, 104KB) The […]

By Maxine Bernstein, The Oregonian, May 7, 2013 Mary-Beth Baptista, who has served as director of Portland’s Independent Police Review Division, is leaving the job in mid-June, Portland’s city auditor announced Tuesday. Baptista has led the division, the intake center for complaints against Portland police, since 2008 after working as a Multnomah County deputy district […]

There is a long and sordid history with the Portland Police and Tasers, which MHAP has been documenting for years. Finally, a Federal Grand Jury agrees there is a problem. As always, follow the Links below to the appropriate sections of this posting: Oregonian: Federal Jury Rules Against Portland Police in Tasing of Man Suspected […]

By Denis C. Theriault, Portland Mercury Blogtown, Fri, Nov 4, 2011 Almost a year after promising quick action on dozens of long-sought police reforms—and months after promising to address further concerns raised by community and accountability groups—Mayor Sam Adams’ office this afternoon will finally release a draft report that lays out the Portland Police Bureau’s […]

The Citizen Review Committee’s Taser/Less-lethal Force Workgroup is scheduled for a public meeting on Tuesday, October 18, 1:30 – 3:00 PM at the City Hall Auditor’s office to discuss and review recommendations from the CRC to the Portland City Council. You can attend this informal meeting. Members of the Mental Health Association of Portland, as […]

City of Portland press release, September 7, 2011 Mary-Beth Baptista, the Director of Portland City Auditor’s Independent Police Review (IPR) division, announces the opening of recruitment for volunteers to serve three-year terms on the Citizen Review Committee (CRC) for five positions commencing in February 2012. “Service on this committee requires objectivity, fairness, impartiality, and lack […]

From the Willamette Week, January 5, 2011 On Nov. 30, defense attorney Chris O’Connor met with members of the city’s police Citizen Review Committee to push for a simple step he says would increase cops’ accountability and help the public understand why they use force on duty. He has yet to get a response. And […]